December 7, 2015 Community Happenings
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- Created on Monday, 07 December 2015 11:27
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Organist to Play at
Lutheran Church
Karen Bretz will play a one-hour concert of seasonal Advent music 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Dec. 10.
Bretz will play the historic 1844 Kessler organ at Sitka Lutheran Church. She is the organist at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage.
Advent is the church’s time of preparing for Christ’s birth. The concert will focus on this reflective theme and will include Advent hymns such as ‘‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’’ and ‘‘Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.’’ Bretz will also play characteristic French Christmas pieces called ‘‘Noels.’’
Organ builder Martin Pasi, of Roy, Wash., will tune and adjust the organ Dec. 9. Pasi rebuilt the organ after it was severely damaged in a 1993 church fire.
The Kessler organ was manufactured in Estonia in 1844 and shipped to Sitka in 1846. It is a five-stop tracker organ with a single manual and no pedal board. It is likely the oldest existing pipe organ west of the Mississippi River.
The free concert is open to the public. For more information, contact Bretz at 351-6591 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
ANS Called
Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 1 members are being asked to attend Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Sitka Police Department’s Town Hall meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
‘‘The ANS recently mediated a meeting with the SPD and had a very honest and courageous question and answer session regarding the recent tasering of a young man in Sitka,’’ ANS said. ‘‘The SPD was very informative and we are supportive of the effort of STA and the public to work together towards fair justice and equal civil rights for all.’’
ANS members will hold a short regular meeting after the Town Hall meeting, at the ANB Founders Hall. Agenda items will include Christmas holiday dinner update, 2016 strategic planning, advocacy, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day committee formation and consideration of creating an ANS culinary training academy.
For question call ANS secretary Stephanie at (646) 510-0696.
Drawing Listed for
Ride With Santa
Children wanting to ride with Santa on the fire truck during the Landlubbers Christmas Parade can sign up for a chance at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the giant candy cane float at the ANB Harbor parking lot. The parade is at 4 p.m.
One child’s name will be drawn. A parent or guardian must accompany the child in case the fire truck gets an emergency call.
For more information call Jim at 747-6201 or Linda at 747-6985.
All Invited to Make
Reindeer Ornaments
As part of At Saxan, Sheldon Jackson Museum’s family friendly and free third Saturday program, participants will make reindeer Christmas ornaments and learn about Sheldon Jackson’s introduction of reindeer to Alaska 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
The program is free and best for children ages 6-10. Participants should wear clothing that can get paint on. For more information and to register a child for the free program, call 747-8981.
Little League Sets
Board Elections
Sitka Little League will hold board elections for the 2016 season 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Blatchley Middle School.
Those interested in helping with the upcoming season are invited to attend.
Holiday Dinner
Meeting TonightThe ANB/ANS Holiday Dinner Committee will meet 6 p.m. tonight, at the ANB Founders Hall to make plans for the annual Community Christmas Dinner.
Volunteers are needed for various tasks including shopping for and wrapping presents, decorating, staffing the dessert and beverage tables, serving, setup, cleanup and roasting turkeys, which are being provided.
For information call Kerry MacLane at 752-0654 or Joy Wood at 542-0845.
Seedling Farms
Lunch on Tap
Sitka Seedling Farms, a Health Summit initiative designed to meet Sitka’s food system needs in a comprehensive way, will be discussed noon-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at the Larkspur Cafe.
Sitka Seedling Farms, which is a finalist in the Paths to Prosperity economic development contest for Southeast Alaska, will work to solve space issues that have hampered local food production for years by exploring innovative land relationships to develop the resources Sitka’s food system needs to thrive, such as production space for food entrepreneurs, community greenhouses, food storage, processing facilities and more.
Interested Sitkans are invited to a discussion on this proposal, For more information contact Matthew Jackson at 907-821-1412 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Health Summit
Gathering at UAS
The Sitka Health Summit and City and Borough of Sitka’s Health Needs and Human Services Commission will hold a health and wellness networking and leadership development event Dec. 10 at UAS-Sitka Campus, Room 229.
The first of three post-planning day follow-ups will run 1-3 p.m. The first hour will be devoted to networking, learning about local coalitions and hearing updates from current health initiatives. From 2 to 3 p.m., the hands-on Leadership Feedback training will be offered and a module on measuring success will follow.
For more information, contact Lauren at 966-8797.
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20 YEARS AGO
December 2004
Photo caption: David Voluck reads a blessing while lighting a menorah during a community gathering observing the eight-day Chanukah festival. Honored speakers included Woody Widmark, STA president, and Assembly member Al Duncan.
50 YEARS AGO
December 1974
From On the Go: More college students home for the holidays – Bill and Isabella Brady have a houseful. Ralph is here from the Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, along with his fiancee Grace Gillian; Louise is here from the University of New Mexico, and Jennifer, who’s working with IEA in Anchorage is home with her fiance Lance Ware.